Special thanks to Ruby the Fox and Sugar Chic Designs for helping to make everything extra beautiful!

It is always good to welcome a new year by reflecting on the previous one … So here are some of our favorite memories from 2011 including weddings we have coordinated as well as events we have participated in within the wedding industry.  It was hard to narrow them down and they appear in no particular order.  I hope you enjoy taking a walk down memory lane with us  (and you can always look back through the blog for more details about each event!).

A special thanks to the following photographers for the above images: Amanda Hein Photography, Bellissima Photography, Danielle Aquiline Photography, David Wolfe Photography, Fred Fox Photography, Gerber + Scarpelli Wedding Photography, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Jeremy Lawson Photography, Megan W Photography, Simply Jessie Photography.

As an industry, wedding professionals bring joy to so many people’s lives all year around. We are asking everyone to continue the joy by participating in our Wedding Industry Food Drive December 15th through December 18th.  You can bring your non perishable food items to one of the following locations (hours and addresses listed below) Bella Bianca, Bleeding Heart Bakery, Fleur, The Left Bank Jewelry & Shoes, Magnificent Milestones and Smitten Boutique. Each store is offering a discount for any one who brings in five or more non perishable food items (amount differs at each location but expect 10% – 15% off). We are so grateful to each of our drop off locations for opening their doors and our hearts to this extremely worthy cause. Beth, Ali and I will be collecting the food on Monday the 19th and taking it directly to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

I’d also like to give a special thanks to Peggy from Erickson Designs for putting together this beautiful poster in a flash!

We are so proud of the work we have done with the eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway.  The event is extremely near and dear to our hearts since we created it in 2010.  This year’s exceptional event took place yesterday at The Chicago History Museum and was featured on the ABC 7  News 6:00 pm broadcast and in the Chicago Sun Times.

Working with the winners, Amy and Howard, was a truly exceptional experience.  They are the kind of people you just want to be around all of the time, infectious, generous, gracious, funny, kind (I could go on and on). It was such a pleasure to introduce them to each of the sponsors and work with them throughout the planning process.

It is important to note that none of this would be possible without the constant support from the vendors in our community. We are so blessed to work with these amazing people who give of their time, talents and resources so willingly and with such grace. We are truly humbled by the experience and thank you simply does not seem to be “big enough” but we hope it will do.

Keep an eye out for some sneak peak pictures from Amanda Hein Photography.

The eleven eleven WEDDING Giveaway for 2012 will be announced sometime in February so please check back often and send in those applications, as you can see,  dream weddings really can come true!

You can find all of our sponsors listed below.  We thank them all, from the bottom of our hearts.

All images are from the Chicago Sun Times Article.

We are so excited to introduce you to our new Intern, Erin!

Erin joined the Greatest Expectations team about a month ago and has jumped right in, head first!  We are taking Erin around town with us as we socialize throughout the summer so please stop and say “hello” if you see her.

Erin is no stranger to event planning. Born and raised in Chicago, Erin has planned many events over the past few years, specializing in galas and social affairs both in the Chicagoland area and in New York. She has worked on events with companies such as Paul Taylor Dance Company and The Dance Films Association. Erin is a degreed professional with a varied background. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.

Erin brings an elegant style and creativity to the Greatest Expectations team. She is very organized and pays attention to special little details. Erin is very passionate about wedding planning and is dedicated to providing the best quality of service to our clients.

Now that we have given you the professional details, here are some fun ones …

You are a professional dancer, what type of dance is your favorite? Where is your favorite place to perform?

My favorite dance is contemporary dance. I didn’t really start taking contemporary until I was in high school, but once I started to do it, I fell in love. My favorite place to perform is pretty much anywhere where there is a large crowd. I love the adrenaline I get when I perform in front of a large audience. It is the most amazing experience. One day I hope to be performing on a Broadway stage! (We are hoping for front row tickets Erin!)

What is your favorite song?

I think my favorite song would have to be ” I Would Die 4 U” By Prince and the Revolution. No matter where I am, if I hear that song I start dancing and singing.

What is your favorite artist?

When it comes to a particular artist its really hard to just choose one. Right now I think I would go with Usher, he is an all around performer. He sings and dances and puts on an amazing performance.

What is your favorite color?

Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with the color pink!  My entire house is pink! Its such a great color… I absolutely love it!

What is your favorite type of food?

I love Thai food!

Name your favorite Chicago “tourist destination”?

The Magnificent Mile! Whenever I have friends visiting from out of town that is the first place I take them!

If you were an animal what would you be and why?

Wow, this is a question I never really thought about before, but I would have to say that I think I would be a panther.  It’s an exotic animal and it’s fast,  not to mention that my sorority’s mascot is a black cat so I figured that I would pick something that is part of the feline nation!

What is your favorite Movie?

My favorite movies would be “The Bad Seed”, ” Love & Basketball” and “One Fine Day”

What is your favorite book?

My favorite book would have to the “Their Eyes Were Watching God” By Zora Neale Hurston.

What is your favorite phrase?

“Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion” ~ Martha Graham

What are you most excited about working with Greatest Expectations?

I am most excited about helping to create the dream weddings for our clients. I want to be part of making someone’s wedding day special and unforgettable. I am also very excited about working with Heather and Katherine they are amazing and I feel as though I can learn so much from them. I know that this experience will be very memorable.

** Photograph courtesy of Amanda Hein Photography. We love Amanda Hein!

We are so excited to see the eleven eleven WEDDING Live Reveal Party up on their site!  We are honored to be part of this amazing wedding and completely love working with Amy and Howard!

Thanks again to ZED451, Poetic Productions, Amanda Hein Photography and BKO for helping to make the live reveal party so amazing!

Please read, watch and enjoy all of following pieces.  We will add more as they come in!

ABC 7 Video featuring Amanda and Katrina

10 Thousand Couples featuring all of our couples

NBC  5 Article featuring Kati and Esther

We are so thrilled to be participating Under a New Moon, what a historic event!  I was so honored that Anita Vaughan from Anita Weds invited us to participate and we know it will be an exceptional evening!

Under a New Moon is a celebration of same-sex civil unions in Illinois! Be one of the first couples to have a civil union ceremony in Chicago!